Dr. Frances Shepherd

Lung cancer biology and therapy

Dr. Shepherd's major area of research is in the field of clinical trials for lung cancer. She has been instrumental in setting new standards of care for both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer patients.

She has initiated and led several international Phase III studies in collaboration with cooperative groups and institutions all over North America and Europe. She has also been the principal investigator or co-investigator for numerous phase I and II investigational new drug trials at Princess Margaret Hospital and nationally through the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC).

Dr. Shepherd has been devoted to collaboration with the basic scientists of the Ontario Cancer Institute to develop a translational research program related to lung cancer. She was instrumental in the creation of NCIC trial-associated Lung Cancer Tumour Banks that contain both cancerous and normal lung samples. These precious samples will play a critical role in furthering understanding of the molecular abnormalities of lung cancer in the future. It is also anticipated that future studies using these samples will help to identify patients who are most likely to derive benefit from specific therapies.

Dr. Shepherd received the 2008 Premier’s Summit Award for Medical Research, the IASLC (International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer) Scientific Award and is a Member of the Order of Ontario.

Additional Appointments

Scott Taylor Chair in Lung Cancer Research
Senior Staff Physician at Princess Margaret Hospital
Site Group Leader for the Lung Cancer site
Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto